On a routine day,Rajesh Bansal,a businessman who runs Rana cycles and Rana Industries in cycle market,Gill road returns home from work after 9.30 pm. For the past 10 days,however,he shuts shop by 6.30 pm and reaches Punjab Aricultural Universitys gate number 2 by 7 pm to join the candlelight vigil in support of Anna Hazares fight against corruption. My workers used to work till 9 pm,but now I close the shift at 6.30 pm. No doubt work is affected but I am contributing my bit to the fight against corruption. In day to day life,we all are victims of corruption. So it is our moral duty to participate in this protest,Bansal says. On the first day,his entire family- his wife and three kids- also join the protests. The kids have to study as well,so they cannot come everyday, he adds. Bansal is part of a growing number of people in the city,cutting across the professional spectrum,who are doing their bit to be part of the movement against corruption. Muneesh Beri,an auto parts businessman is a regular at the candle light march. Evening hours are the busiest normally,because phone calls from our clients in other states come,but now I dont attend any phone call between 7 pm-9pm. I have dedicated this time for the fight against corruption, says Beri. Lucky Dua,from Dua enterprises that does business in nuts and bolts also echoes Beri. Rohit Seth from Shruti enterprises says, I now start my day early. I start all my work by 9 am which used to be left pending till 11 am earlier and finish most of my work by 6pm so that I can be ready for the candle march. The show at Ramlila Maidan is going on for us only. No doubt little bit of production is affecting in my unit,but it hardly matters. Sarabjit Singh,a senior citizen and resident of Model town extension is another protester who can be easily spotted at the candlelight vigil everyday. The 70-year-old walks from his house to PAU and returns by foot at night. Students from various colleges,carrying national flags,are also seen in large numbers at the protest site. After many years I felt patriot feelings within me, Bansal says. Apart from residents and different groups protesting outside PAU gate number 2, shopkeepers have introduced special offers. A kids store in Ansal plaza is giving extra 10 per cent discount on garments to support Anna movement while Quality swirl - an ice cream brand has introduced tri colour ice cream and has said it will donate 10 per cent share of sale of the product to the anti-graft movement. 78-year-old on fast unto death To support Anna Hazare,78-year-old Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa - a resident of Hassanpura village is also sitting on a fast unto death outside the mini secretariat office. With Thursday being the 10th day of his fast,the administration has appointed a team of doctors to take care of his health. A retired government teacher,Bapu Surats wife and kids are settled in the US. The district administration had been taking him to the civil hospital every day for a check up but the retired teacher on Thursday gave it in writing that he was fit. Due to this, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari appointed a medical officer on shift duty at the spot. Satnam Singh Dhaliwal,from the Universal Human Rights Commission said Bapu Surat refused to go to the hospital as he was forced to get IV fluid.
